Italy's Agriculture Minister Warns Against Threat of "Slush" Lab-Food to Quality Products

According to Italian Agriculture Minister’s comment to Reuters, lab-grown food, labeling it as "slush," poses a potential risk to human health and can never replicate the taste of natural meat or fish.

Recently, Italy's right-wing government suggested legislation to prohibit the production and import of cultured food and feed, which are not yet available within the European Union. 

In 2020, Singapore became the first country to authorize the sale of lab-grown meat for retail purposes. However, both the United States and Israel are also advancing in this field.

Francesco Lollobrigida, a prominent member of the Brothers of Italy party, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, stated, "We oppose the concept of standardizing products through laboratory processes, which would eliminate the unique cultural characteristics associated with the land."

Organizations promoting the creation of cell-based products expressed anger at the Italian ban, which is pending approval by parliament. They argued that the production of meat without the need for animal breeding could help combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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According to the source, Italy is limiting the choices available to consumers who are mindful of animal welfare and prefer to consume food products that are not derived from slaughter.

Lollobrigida dismissed the criticism, stating that animal breeding is considered a sustainable practice in Italy. He refuted any comparisons between agricultural and industrial pollution and highlighted that the production of lab-grown food also involves significant energy consumption.

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According to him, multinational corporations are making investments in this sector because they perceive it as a profitable business opportunity. By establishing factories in regions with lower energy and labor costs, they expect to increase their revenues significantly.

The government has renamed the agriculture ministry to the "Ministry for Agriculture and food sovereignty" and has committed to safeguarding and enhancing Italy's renowned culinary heritage.

As part of this effort, Lollobrigida is contemplating the development of a rating system to assess the quality of Italian restaurants worldwide, distinguishing those that utilize authentic Italian ingredients from those that offer cuisine that bears no resemblance to Italian fare, to eliminate any confusion.

-Reuters 

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